The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual, global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis.

Each year, more than 5,000 students from over 1,000 universities participate in the competition. The competing student teams research and analyze a publicly traded company and then write a research report on their assigned company with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation.

The student teams are supported by experienced professionals, so-called “industry mentors,” from the CFA Society Germany, a local member society of the CFA Institute and the largest professional association of investment professionals and financial experts in Germany.

After submission of the research reports, the three best entries are selected to participate in the national final. This year, teams from RWTH Aachen University, the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, and LMU Munich had the opportunity to present their company presentations and participate in a Q&A session in front of a jury of CFA experts.

Assuming the Role of Research Analysts

This year, the participating students were assigned to analyze the current situation of the medical engineering company Fresenius Medical Care, which invited the students to answer their questions and provide them with insights into the latest business figures.

Florian Jehle, SVP Strategic Initiatives, Technology & Innovation Management of Fresenius Medical Care, was present at the national final and attended the presentations of the three finalists: “The jury asked some very tough questions that were quite challenging, even for professionals. The students showed how deeply they had immersed themselves in our business, the market, and our customer mix. It is this level of dedication and accuracy that we are looking for in our future employees.”

In the next round, the five members of the winning team from RWTH will compete against the winners of the other European contests. The aim is to qualify for the global final in New York City, where one team will emerge as the global champion of the CFA Institute Research Challenge.